Periodical Cicadas o Periodical Cicadas appear only once in seventeen years in any one area. Cicadas do not emerge everywhere at the same time.
17 -Year Locusts o o o Cicada appear in eastern North America. There are seven species, three with 17 year cycles. Many people know periodical cicadas by the name "17 -year locusts", but they are not true locusts or grasshoppers.
Love is in the air! o o o Male cicadas make a sound that is produced by a pair of drumskin-like organs on the base of the abdomen. These vibrate at a high speed making a buzzing sound when the male cicada calls for a mate. Once a male starts singing, the others join in.
Family Time o o When mating is complete, the female slits an opening in a small branch or twig and lays a small cluster of eggs. When the eggs hatch, the ant-like babies drop to the ground and burrow into cracks in the soil.
Life Underground o o The cicada nymphs stay underground for 17 years, drinking tree sap and growing. In the spring, they crawl to the surface and construct a home.
Emerging Adult o The cicada nymph’s skin splits and the adult cicada slowly pushes out.
Back On Top o The male cicadas start making their mating noise with their tymbal and the life cycle begins again.
It’s A Short Life o The adult cicada has a short life span, only a few weeks, compared to the long term nymph stage. So long!